ELDERFLOWER MUSINGS
During our May workshop, we greeted this ancient tree to learn from her. She took us into a mossy green forest and rained her tiny flowers over us. She appeared as many things, mother, maiden, crone, a Japanese woman with serene peace, a tree with outstretched hands… We felt her in our heads, hearts, lungs, and sacral chakra. She told us of the importance of being present and letting go of the need to control the future. She helped us deepen our breath and appreciate the expanse of our heart space. She showed us that she is a doorway to different levels of consciousness.
Elder was sometimes called the "Elder Mother" - it was said that "Little Elder Mother" dwells in the tree, or her dominion could be entered through the tree. All parts of the Elder tree are medicinal (although we mainly use her flowers and berries) and have been used by our ancestors for many years. Native Americans placed offerings by each plant when picking them for use, whereas the medieval European peasants addressed the entire green world each spring by placing offerings to the ‘Little Elder Mother’ at the foot of the elder in hopes of good medicine and crops.
Elder flowers are a stimulating diaphoretic (induces sweating), and reduce heat by opening the pores so it is good for treating fever. It’s an ally for the respiratory system (you can see that the branches look like the bronchial in the lungs). It is also helpful for congestion and coughs. Improves oxygenation, blood flow, perspiration, and elimination by the colon and kidneys.
Robin Rose Bennett beautifully describes Elder in her book The Gift of Healing Herbs:
“Body: bioflavonoid-rich, antiviral for colds and flu. Flowers are used for fevers, ear pain, sinus congestion, wounds, skin and kidney support, blood and lymph circulation, and berries are rich in iron and ease chest congestion and coughs.
Mind: increases awareness of the “big picture,” enhances knowledge of interconnection and the unity of all life.
Heart: opens the heart to receive ancestral guidance.
Soul: stimulation, evolutionary plant that offers guidance through the chaos of transformation.”
You can enjoy Elderflower in so many ways, she’s wonderful as tea, an infused honey or vinegar for salads, and of course what is more refreshing than a fizzy glass of Elderflower cordial on a warm sun-kissed day.
My dear friend and I foraged 72 heads of elderflower from the River Boyne to create our own cordial last week. Here is a recipe to try yourself.
